Thanks to the Hideaway Kitchen & Bar, the popular Grove Street and Sunset Lane corner in Ridgefield is thriving again.

The Corner Pub was here for three decades, but closed last year. Now the one-story brick building has been renovated. Outside it has been painted black and there are new windows with opaque glass that lend a sort of mystery I find appealing.

It was a bitter cold Thursday when a family member joined me to dine here around 6:30 p.m. All the parking spots were full -- a good sign when you want good food. Once inside we blended nicely with about six or more families with kids, all carrying on lively conversations. It was a friendly atmosphere.

I like that you can order a burger here 12 different ways. These include the Hideaway, which comes with an over-easy egg, bacon and American cheese, and the French Onion Burger, with sauteed onions, mushrooms and Swiss cheese. There's also a Chili Cheeseburger, which I requested.

The starters are classic and substantially portioned. Choices include Kobe Hot Dog Sliders, which come on pretzel bread. You also can enjoy chicken wings -- from "scorching" to extra hot, barbecued and Thai -- nachos and chicken quesadillas.

Almost everything has been redone at the Hideaway, Lynch confirmed a few days later. A wall that previously separated the bar and dining room was taken out and there's plenty of tables and chairs in both locations. Two flat-screen TVs were added in the bar.

A centerpiece in the dining room is a massive stone fireplace that used to be a tired-looking wood-burning stove. Walls are painted a light green and complement the wooden floor that looks to have been redone or replaced.

"It's lighter, looks new," my companion said of the decor.

Food-wise, we noticed a similarity to the Corner Pub tradition of having daily specials. Here they are called "Blue Plate Specials" and include meatloaf on Monday, roast turkey on Tuesday and so on. While choosing our entrees, we pre-ordered the Kobe Hot Dog Sliders I'd heard about from a previous diner. "They're awesome," my companion said.

I'm so glad my cheeseburger came with the house fries. The burger was excellent; it came medium-well, as requested, and hot.

My companion ordered the Balboa; this sandwich comes on a garlic ciabatta roll and contains shaved prime rib, provolone cheese, sauteed onions, hot cherry peppers, and a side of onion rings. The rings are a popular side dish, as are the Hideaway's sweet potato fries.

Sandwiches here also include the classic Reuben and barbecued pulled pork.

The chili is rich and flavorful made with beef and red beans and the tomato-based sauce is spicy, but not too spicy. I have no doubt you can ask for more heat.

A few days later when I mentioned the fries to owner Lynch, he said preparing them is "labor intensive." Explaining further, he said, "We use whole potatoes with the skins on, sliced fresh every day, which is rare (for restaurants to do). We double cook them to get them crispy."

He also said the restaurant has attracted previous fans of the Corner Pub and new customers as well, including more families.

I counted 14 craft beers on the menu. There are six on tap, plus domestic and imported choices. There are also wines from Italy, California, New Zealand and France.

The Hideaway has a full dessert menu, including Black Forest Cake. Yum.